Not Bound by Region, Building, or Job
In today’s climate, it’s easy to get caught up in our occupations. From an early age, we’re told we have to grow up, learn how to do something specific so that we can go out and make money to provide for our families and then send our kids off to school so the cycle can continue. There are some slight deviations to this formula, but for the most part, we’re taught that it’s the “obvious answer” to living a successful life. Personally, I don’t completely disagree with this way of thinking. There are a lot of good things that have come out of this belief system. There is value in spending time training toward something. There’s also a lot of value in being able to provide for your family. The issue, I believe, is the emphasis. Notice that the emphasis is our job. It’s all supposed to lead to our job or our occupation. I think it’s easy for Christians to unintentionally replace the call on our lives for what our title is at work or what we do to provide.
Part of my personal testimony is realizing that I had to shift my focus off of what my job was and more so on what God wanted me to do. I spent years chasing the idea of a perfect degree or job that would bring me satisfaction and contentment. However, I realized that God was trying to teach me an important lesson. It doesn't matter what I do as long as I am doing what God wants me to do wherever I am. I couldn’t just say that though; I had to actually do it. When I finally did it, God began to work in my life like I had never seen. Even now, working at Opendoor Church, God is still trying to teach me the same thing.
JOURNAL: What has God been trying to teach you about your occupation? Where is the emphasis in your life?
I was talking with someone a few years younger than me who was about to go to college and she was going around asking people for bits and pieces of advice and admittingly, at first I didn’t necessarily have any. I told her I may have to think about it and get back with her. The conversation progressed and eventually she started telling me that she didn’t know if she made the right decision choosing to go off to college instead of working a job somewhere else. She had been wanting to go to this christian university but she was offered a job at a ministry so she was conflicted. I got a little excited at that moment, probably confusing her, because the conversation had allowed me to recall a little piece of advice I had learned from a past experience.
I told her that no matter where she goes, she can do what God has called her to do. If she left that ministry to go to the university, God would have something for her there. And if she left the university to work at that ministry, God would also have something for her there. Once we realize that our job and location aren’t the deciding factors of what we can do for God, it is incredibly freeing.
1 Corinthians 7:17 (NIV) says, “Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.”
I know it sounds simple, but it’s really hard to remember sometimes, especially when you're about to make a big life decision. We can get very caught up in a location or a place or a title, but really, we are all called to love God, love other people, and make disciples. That can be done no matter where we are or what our title is.
PRAYER: God, help me remember that we are all called to love You, love other people, and make disciples. Help me remember that no matter where I am in life, I can be obedient to You in carrying out those commands.
Part of my personal testimony is realizing that I had to shift my focus off of what my job was and more so on what God wanted me to do. I spent years chasing the idea of a perfect degree or job that would bring me satisfaction and contentment. However, I realized that God was trying to teach me an important lesson. It doesn't matter what I do as long as I am doing what God wants me to do wherever I am. I couldn’t just say that though; I had to actually do it. When I finally did it, God began to work in my life like I had never seen. Even now, working at Opendoor Church, God is still trying to teach me the same thing.
JOURNAL: What has God been trying to teach you about your occupation? Where is the emphasis in your life?
I was talking with someone a few years younger than me who was about to go to college and she was going around asking people for bits and pieces of advice and admittingly, at first I didn’t necessarily have any. I told her I may have to think about it and get back with her. The conversation progressed and eventually she started telling me that she didn’t know if she made the right decision choosing to go off to college instead of working a job somewhere else. She had been wanting to go to this christian university but she was offered a job at a ministry so she was conflicted. I got a little excited at that moment, probably confusing her, because the conversation had allowed me to recall a little piece of advice I had learned from a past experience.
I told her that no matter where she goes, she can do what God has called her to do. If she left that ministry to go to the university, God would have something for her there. And if she left the university to work at that ministry, God would also have something for her there. Once we realize that our job and location aren’t the deciding factors of what we can do for God, it is incredibly freeing.
1 Corinthians 7:17 (NIV) says, “Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.”
I know it sounds simple, but it’s really hard to remember sometimes, especially when you're about to make a big life decision. We can get very caught up in a location or a place or a title, but really, we are all called to love God, love other people, and make disciples. That can be done no matter where we are or what our title is.
PRAYER: God, help me remember that we are all called to love You, love other people, and make disciples. Help me remember that no matter where I am in life, I can be obedient to You in carrying out those commands.
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